Tsunami
lines for eastern suburbs
Tsunami
escape routes and safety markers will soon be commonplace for Miramar
Peninsula residents as part of Wellington's emergency preparations.
SUSAN TEODORO
LINED UP: Wellington Regional Council Emergency Management Office's Jason Paul with the new tsunami warning line at Worser Bay.
23
October, 2014
Blue
warnings are being painted on peninsula roads over the next few
weeks.
Jason
Paul, an adviser with the Wellington Region Emergency Management
Office, said that in a worst case scenario a tsunami up to 35 metres
high might come through Wellington Heads and into the harbour,
affecting Miramar and the surrounding area.
"It's
just going to come up and keep going," he said.
"It
will go up through the heads and into the harbour. It'll go up over
the land into Miramar.
"The
whole harbour will fill up, to some extent."
The
placement of the lines was decided after consultation with the local
communities.
Jason
said tsunamis had affected the area before.
The
1855 earthquake centred in Palliser Bay created a tsunami which
reportedly sent a 5-metre wave over the Rongotai isthmus.
In
an extreme event, seawater could also come through Breaker Bay's Pass
of Branda into Seatoun, although that is not likely.
For
that reason, there will not be a blue line on the road at the pass.
Instead,
blue arrows will point people towards walking tracks on both sides of
the road at the top of the pass.
The
lines, which were trialed first in Island Bay in 2010, are being
painted progressively over the next few weeks in Miramar, Seatoun,
Strathmore, Moa Point, Breaker Bay, Karaka Bay and around Shelley
Bay.
Local
residents have welcomed the initiative.
Heidi
Holmes, owner of dog grooming salon Lush Puppies in Miramar, said
they were a good idea. They would be a talking point for children and
families.
"It's
good that people know where to go in the event of an emergency,"
she said.
"There's
going to be enough confusion and chaos if there is an emergency. At
least that part's eliminated for us."
She
said the lines were only a short way from the shop and she was
pleased to know where she, her son, her staff and the dogs would have
to go to be safe.
Holmes
said she had told her staff to load the dogs in the cars and get up
the hill.
Gerard
Morrison and Dr Dale Nelson, who live in Seatoun, said they were
relieved to know they were only 300 metres from safety, even though
they are close to the sea.
Morrison
said he was pleased the council was painting the signs, because they
raised awareness.
The
next phase of the project, which is expected to be completed by next
June, will involve Hataitai, Greta Point and Roseneath.
Blue
lines will probably be painted in the CBD in the 2016 financial year.
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